New York, January 11, 2026, 20:46 (EST) — Market closed
- DHT closed Friday slightly lower, slipping 0.1% to $13.42, with intraday moves ranging from $13.16 to $13.52.
- Oil pushed higher Monday, driven by supply concerns in Iran and Venezuela, sending crude-shipping stocks into the spotlight.
- Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) firmed up last week, and investors are now waiting to see if the rally can stick.
DHT Holdings Inc shares dipped a bit on Friday, but as the U.S. session opens Monday, it’s broader macro news that’s driving the action for the crude tanker owner.
For DHT, freight rates are the immediate indicator. The company operates a fleet of VLCCs, and its earnings fluctuate with spot tanker rates — the daily cost to haul crude — which can spike when trade routes change or vessels become congested.
Oil markets have grown restless again. Shifts in crude prices and export paths can swiftly ripple into tanker demand. Traders are closely eyeing if freight can keep up after last week’s rebound.
DHT stock slipped slightly, closing at $13.42, down 2 cents or roughly 0.1% from the previous session. Trading volume hit around 2.3 million shares. 1
Over the weekend, other tanker stocks showed varied moves. Frontline climbed roughly 2.2% from its last close, with Nordic American Tankers inching up around 0.4%, based on market data.
Oil closed last week on a firm note, with Brent and U.S. crude both climbing roughly 2% Friday amid supply concerns sparked by unrest in Iran and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group, said the “uprising in Iran is keeping the market on edge.” Ole Hansen, head of commodity analysis at Saxo Bank, added that the protests were “leading the market to worry about disruptions.” 2
ANZ analysts, led by Daniel Hynes, flagged early Monday that strike threats in Iran’s oil sector could disrupt output, putting at least 1.9 million barrels per day of exports in jeopardy. Reuters added that firms are rushing to lock down vessels to handle possible Venezuelan shipments. 3
Freight is showing signs of movement. The Baltic Exchange’s VLCC benchmark for the Middle East Gulf-to-China route (TD3C) climbed 24 Worldscale points this week, reaching WS74.17. That translates to a round-trip time charter rate near $55,540 daily, according to the exchange’s latest weekly update. 4
DHT’s latest update, released earlier this month, announced the delivery of the VLCC newbuilding DHT Antelope. This ship is the first of four scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2026. The vessel has already started operating on the spot market. 5
In late December, the company confirmed it had agreed to sell two older VLCCs for $101.6 million. After repaying debt, it expects net cash proceeds around $95 million, along with gains of $30.4 million and $29.7 million from the sales. 6
Still, the situation works both ways. A supply shock might push oil prices higher and disrupt shipping routes, but it can also slash export volumes if barrels disappear. Tanker rates often flip fast as ships shift and cargoes dwindle.
This week, traders are zeroing in on Wednesday’s U.S. inventory report for clues on crude demand. They’ll also track daily VLCC rate updates closely, alongside any new signals from Washington about Iran and Venezuela that might nudge tanker demand. 7
